If you’re lucky enough to have a great rec room in your home, take advantage of it. If it is just one of those areas thrown together with miscellaneous items placed for the decor, maybe it is time for an overhauling. Updating this space will give you a great warmth and coziness into the area where the family can enjoy together or with friends for entertainment. If it is a unique room size it may seem complicated to some but it may just take a few tries before it’s the way you like. Don’t give up.

Have you had a design for this room but didn’t know where to start? Are the walls uneven in size and you aren’t quite sure where to place what? Well try placing the television on the smallest wall in the room so then you’ll use this as the focal point. Placing the seating area round on the other walls along with even the center facing the television is a great start. You’ll be able to view the television no matter where you’re sitting in the room.

If there is furniture or other items in this room that you haven’t used or don’t understand what the use is for it, dispose of it. It may just be taking up space that you can use for something useful for the design. You want the junk to disappear and make it seem less cluttered in the rec room.

So, how should you use this space you have gained? The kids now have extra play space, so sort their toys so that you have play centers. Schools and day care centers usually use this system too. All it means is that toys which fit into a specific category are collected in one area. For example, you can have a kitchen center where all the cooking theme play equipment is placed. You can put a small area rug down here and place the kitchen type toys here. Make a rule that this is the kitchen, and kitchen toys stay here. Other play areas around the room follow the same kind of rule, so that all around the room there are defined areas for specific types of play.

It has been shown in research that children can be encouraged to read if you have specific reading areas for them. So not only can you divide your rec room into areas for specific types of play, you can also incorporate a reading area. Here you should have a thick, soft rug and some comfy cushions. Add a bookshelf, well stocked with books, and some bean bags and pillows so every child can be comfortable. Kids will be drawn to this area where they can sit, be cozy, relax and read. You need to make a rule here, too, that books stay in their designated area.

The use of rugs for these designated areas help in your organization of the room. Call it the ‘rule of the rug’, if you like. Area rugs help to define each area so that everyone can be comfortable in their chosen activity.